StMaryNow.com | Franklin Banner-Tribune & Morgan City Daily-Review | St. Mary Parish, La. - Dray Josephhttp://www.daily-review.com/dray-joseph
enSWAC names Joseph, Walker, Harris players of yearhttp://www.daily-review.com/college-sports/swac-names-joseph-walker-harris-players-year
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="http://www.daily-review.com/sites/stmarynow.com/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/Sports%20Headline_159.jpg?itok=UFudOoWC"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://www.daily-review.com/sites/stmarynow.com/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/Sports%20Headline_159.jpg?itok=UFudOoWC" width="350" height="177" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Southern quarterback Dray Joseph and Alcorn State running back Arnold Walker are Southwestern Athletic Conference co-offensive players of the year while Arkansas-Pine Bluff linebacker Jer-ryan Harris claimed top defensive honors.</p>
<p>The league released its all-conference teams on Friday, as chosen by SWAC coaches and sports information directors.</p>
<p>Alabama State linebacker Kourtney Berry is newcomer of the year while Jackson State defensive lineman Javancy Jones was chosen as the top freshman.</p>
<p>Alcorn State and Alabama State led the way with 10 All-SWAC selections apiece and both had five first-teamers.</p>
<p>Joseph led the SWAC with 3,236 passing yards and 27 touchdowns.</p>
<p>Walker was the league's top rusher with 1,191 yards and 16 touchdowns.</p>
<p>Harris had a SWAC-best 107 tackles for Arkansas-Pine Bluff. He ranks sixth in the FCS in tackles.</p>
<p>A list of the All-Southwestern Athletic Conference teams and winners as chosen by league coaches and sports information directors:</p>
<p>Co-Offensive Player of the Year: Dray Joseph (Southern), Arnold Walker (Alcorn State)</p>
<p>Defensive Player of the Year: Jer-ryan Harris (Arkansas-Pine Bluff)</p>
<p>Newcomer of the Year: Kourtney Berry (Alabama State)</p>
<p>Freshman of the Year: Javancy Jones (Jackson State)</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>FIRST TEAM</p>
<p>Offense</p>
<p>QB - Dray Joseph (Southern)</p>
<p>RB - Isaiah Crowell (Alabama State)</p>
<p>RB - Arnold Walker (Alcorn State)</p>
<p>OL - Issac Sampson (Alcorn State)</p>
<p>OL - Dillon Bonnet (Prairie View A&amp;M)</p>
<p>OL - Edmond Davis (Alabama State)</p>
<p>OL - Jordan Arthur (Jackson State)</p>
<p>OL - Johnathan Smith (Jackson State)</p>
<p>WR - DeAndre Cooper (Prairie View A&amp;M)</p>
<p>WR - Lee Doss (Southern)</p>
<p>TE - Johnathan Dorsey (Alabama A&amp;M)</p>
<p>Defense</p>
<p>DL - Derrick Billups - (Alabama State)</p>
<p>DL - Amir Bloom (Texas Southern)</p>
<p>DL - Javancy Jones (Jackson State)</p>
<p>DL - Robert Simpson (Mississippi Valley State)</p>
<p>LB - Jer-ryan Harris (Arkansas-Pine Bluff)</p>
<p>LB - Kourtney Berry (Alabama State)</p>
<p>LB - Robert Nelson (Alabama A&amp;M)</p>
<p>DB - Qua Cox (Jackson State)</p>
<p>DB - Avery Boykin (Mississippi Valley State)</p>
<p>DB - Brandon Thomas (Texas Southern)</p>
<p>DB - C.J. Morgan (Alcorn State)</p>
<p>K - Haiden McCraney (Alcorn State)</p>
<p>P - Bobby Wenzig (Alabama State)</p>
<p>RS - Tavoris Doss (Alcorn State)</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>SECOND TEAM</p>
<p>Offense</p>
<p>QB - Jerry Lovelocke (Prairie View A&amp;M)</p>
<p>RB - Barrington Scott (Alabama A&amp;M)</p>
<p>RB - Courtney Brown (Prairie View A&amp;M)</p>
<p>OL - Derrick Jead (Jackson State)</p>
<p>OL - Jonathan Scott (Alcorn State)</p>
<p>OL - Anthony Mosley (Southern)</p>
<p>OL - Robert Roquemore (Alabama State)</p>
<p>OL - Detonio Dade (Alcorn State)</p>
<p>WR - Zach Pendleton (Jackson State)</p>
<p>WR - Montarius Smith (Alabama A&amp;M)</p>
<p>TE - Jordan Payne (Alcorn State)</p>
<p>Defense</p>
<p>DL - Deion Roberson (Alcorn State)</p>
<p>DL - Carlton Jones (Alabama State)</p>
<p>DL - Tedderick Terrell (Jackson State)</p>
<p>DL - Edward Mosley (Alabama State)</p>
<p>LB - Raheem Cardwell (Prairie View A&amp;M)</p>
<p>LB - Jerome Howard (Prairie View A&amp;M)</p>
<p>LB - Steve Orisakwe (Grambling State)</p>
<p>DB - Lawrence Barnett (Alabama A&amp;M)</p>
<p>DB - Derrick Harris (Alabama A&amp;M)</p>
<p>DB - Devon Francois (Alcorn State)</p>
<p>DB - Cameron Loeffler (Jackson State)</p>
<p>K - Bobby Wenzig (Alabama State)</p>
<p>P - Cory Carter (Texas Southern)</p>
<p>RS - Myles Everett (Alabama State)</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-section field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Section:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/college-sports" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>College Sports</span></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/swac" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>SWAC</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/dray-joseph" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>Dray Joseph</span></a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/arnold-walker" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>Arnold Walker</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/football" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>Football</span></a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/southern-university" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>Southern University</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/alcorn-state" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>Alcorn State</span></a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/arkansas-pine-bluff-0" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>Arkansas Pine Bluff</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/jer-ryan-harris" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>Jer-ryan Harris</span></a></div></div></div>Fri, 06 Dec 2013 21:53:58 +0000Geoffrey Stoute15596 at http://www.daily-review.comhttp://www.daily-review.com/college-sports/swac-names-joseph-walker-harris-players-year#commentsSouthern downs Grambling 40-17 in Bayou Classichttp://www.daily-review.com/college-sports/southern-downs-grambling-40-17-bayou-classic
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>NEW ORLEANS — As much as Grambling could have used a morale-boosting triumph in the Bayou Classic, Dray Joseph and the Southern Jaguars were not going to let that happen.</p>
<p>Joseph and Lee Dross connected for three touchdowns and Southern defeated Grambling 40-17 Saturday.</p>
<p>The result left the Tigers (1-11, 0-8 Southwestern Athletic Conference) with the program's worst-ever overall record to close a season which will be remembered more for a mid-season player walkout than anything on the field.</p>
<p>"I'm OK with that because you know what? One thing it did is brought a lot of attention to this one game," Grambling coach Dennis "Dirt" Winston said. "The world wanted to see what these guys were going to do. ... I think they represented well. Southern today was just a better football team."</p>
<p>Despite all the losses, Grambling offensive lineman Clint Marsh said the season "went fairly decent with what we got accomplished for the younger players and the future of Grambling."</p>
<p>"That's what I wanted the young players to know — when you stick together as a team, there's nothing that you can't overcome," Marsh said.</p>
<p>Next for Grambling is the administration's decision regarding who to hire as permanent head coach.</p>
<p>Winston, who was in charge only for Grambling's last four games, led the Tigers to their only victory and two close losses before the Bayou Classic. He said he'd like the job, but is under the impression that McNeese State tight-ends coach Roderick Fobbs is the favorite to take over.</p>
<p>"I'm just going to do the best job I can do until they tell me, 'Hey, you're fired,'" Winston said. "Until something is permanent, I'm going to continue to work, continue to recruit, continue to talk to these players."</p>
<p>Marsh said Winston, a former NFL linebacker and former assistant under legendary former Grambling coach Eddie Robinson, did a good job keeping players together and making the Tigers more competitive.</p>
<p>"I talk to a lot of the players. They really, really do like coach Winston," Marsh said. "It's more than just a football team, it's a family. I really don't want them to split and I think the best chance of avoiding a split is if coach Winston is still the coach."</p>
<p>Southern (8-4, 7-2) had already won the SWAC's Western Division and will head to the league championship game against Jackson State in Houston on Dec. 7.</p>
<p>But the Jaguars had no interest in letting up on their struggling rivals, racing to a 27-3 halftime lead on a short scoring run by Lenard Tillery and TD catches of 17 and 30 yards by Doss.</p>
<p>"Momentum is everything in college football, so just going into the next game with a victory is a great deal for us," Joseph said. "Jackson State has been sitting there preparing for us for three weeks and they probably watched this game today, so just having the momentum going for us next week is a great thing for us."</p>
<p>Grambling pulled to 27-17 on Johnathan Williams' touchdown passes of 11 yards to Robert Bailey and 8 yards to Anthony McGhee. But in the fourth quarter, Southern's defense thwarted the comeback attempt by forcing turnovers. Williams was intercepted by defensive back Virgil Williams. Later, Williams lost a fumble on a sack by linebacker Daniel Brown.</p>
<p>Williams, who moved into a starting role after an injury to season-opening starter D.J. Williams, finished 14 of 21 for 123 yards.</p>
<p>Doss finished with six catches for 117 yards and surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the season. Tillery gained 104 yards on 19 carries.</p>
<p>Grambling's season took a historic turn when players walked out on several days of practice and Jackson State's Oct. 19 homecoming game in protest of the conditions under which they trained and traveled, citing in particular their long bus rides to Indianapolis and Kansas City.</p>
<p>Player complaints included decrepit practice and training facilities, including a torn-up weight room floor, which was replaced after their protest.</p>
<p>The seeds of revolt were planted in September with the firing of head coach Doug Williams, who is one of the school's most famous alumni, having won a Super Bowl with the Washington Redskins.</p>
<p>Williams was first replaced by George Ragsdale, who went 0-5 before being replaced by Winston during the week of the walkout.</p>
<p>The walkout lasted one game, which was forfeited. The SWAC fined Grambling $20,000 and ordered the Tigers to play at Jackson State the next three seasons.</p>
<p>Those associated with Grambling hope long-term effects of the protest eventually include a better relationship between prominent football alumni and the university's administration so they may rebuild trust with prospective donors who have the ability to address some of the program's ills quickly.</p>
<p>Yet, during the game, it was apparent that wasn't going to happen overnight. Doug Williams attended the game, watching most of it by himself in the Superdome press box before heading down to the Grambling sideline in the final minutes.</p>
<p>He said he wanted to support his son, D.J., and the many players he recruited, but otherwise declined comment on the extent to which any healing has taken place.</p>
<p>"I think it's better if I stay out of it," he said.</p>
<p>Marsh said relationships between current players and the administration is not entirely restored yet, either.</p>
<p>"There's a lot more that could be done," Marsh said.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-kicker field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">By BRETT MARTEL, AP Sports Writer</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-section field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Section:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/college-sports" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>College Sports</span></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/southern-university" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>Southern University</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/grambling-state" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>Grambling State</span></a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/dray-joseph" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>Dray Joseph</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/bayou-classic" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>Bayou Classic</span></a></div></div></div>Sun, 01 Dec 2013 05:19:02 +0000Geoffrey Stoute15369 at http://www.daily-review.comhttp://www.daily-review.com/college-sports/southern-downs-grambling-40-17-bayou-classic#comments